Newborn baby found buried alive in septic tank

A newborn baby has been rescued after being abandoned and buried alive in a disused septic tank in Indonesia.

Locals heard the baby’s cries from under pieces of wood, rocks, leaves and mesh in the old tank, prompting a rescue operation.

The baby boy was rushed to hospital where he is recovering after being found in the village of Gantar in the Indramayu district of the region, according to SMACK.

One villager said: “There were tears. I along with other residents went into grounds of the empty house and it is true, there was a baby without any shawls or clothes.”

They told local media the baby had suffered a cut to his head while the rotting placenta was found nearby. They added: “After we brought to the midwife we immediately took the baby to the health centre and then there was a referral to a hospital. We also immediately reported it to the police.”

Police arrived at the scene and searched the house but there was nobody inside. It is not known if the owners are linked to the abandoned baby.